**Mineral Nutrition and Fertilization of Sugarcane**

**Mineral Nutrition and Fertilization of Sugarcane**

DOI: 10.5772/intechopen.72300

Mauro Wagner de Oliveira, Geraldo Antônio Resende Macêdo, Jolberto Alves Martins, Vinicius Santos Gomes da Silva and Alexandre Bosco de Oliveira Geraldo Antônio Resende Macêdo, Jolberto Alves Martins, Vinicius Santos Gomes da Silva and Alexandre Bosco de Oliveira Additional information is available at the end of the chapter

Mauro Wagner de Oliveira,

Additional information is available at the end of the chapter

http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.72300

#### **Abstract**

Sugarcane extracts large amounts of nutrients from the soil and accumulates them in the plant due to its large mass production. Thus, agricultural practices ensuring adequate supply of nutrients to the crop must be adopted to obtain high crop yields in the cane plant cycle and small decreases in the subsequent cycles. In this chapter, the following items will be addressed and discussed: soil sampling, soil fertility evaluation, liming, plastering, cane plant chemical fertilization, sprout chemical fertilization, sugarcane nutritional status evaluation, organic fertilization, use of cultural remains and residues from sugar and alcohol industry, use of humic substances, fertilization, and quality of the sugarcane broth.

**Keywords:** production system, liming, mineral fertilization, nutritional status, green manure, crop residues

### **1. Introduction**

Sugarcane is a crop adapted to tropical and subtropical climates, developing well between 37° N in southern Spain and 31° S in the Republic of South Africa. It is planted at altitudes ranging from sea level up to 1.00 m. In addition to the production of sugar and alcohol, sugarcane has been widely used by small and medium-sized rural producers for the production of *cachaça*, *rapadura* (raw brown sugar) and brown sugar, as well as for the feeding of ruminants and pigs, especially during times of high purchase price of corn or of low sale value of this monogastric. In order to increase the productivity of inputs, land and agriculture, agricultural techniques have been adopted, among which we may mention the improvement of soil

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physical and chemical properties by the application of lime and gypsum, chemical fertilization, green fertilization, and use of organic compounds. The choice of sugarcane varieties with a greater productive potential is another technology adopted by producers. For this, it is recommended to consult local or regional research agencies, as well as sugar mills and distilleries, to seek information on the adaptation and productivity of sugarcane varieties in different environments and different cultural managements [1].

**3. Evaluation of soil fertility**

are also of great value [1, 2].

following year ("year and a half sugarcane").

Sugarcane, because it produces large amounts of mass, consequently extracts and accumulates a great quantity of nutrients from the soil. In studies conducted in Brazil, Australia, India, and Florida, it was found that for a production of 120 tons of natural matter per hectare, corresponding to about 100 tons of industrializable culms, the accumulation of nutrients in plant shoots must be 150, 40, 180, 90, 50, and 40 kg of N, P, K, Ca, Mg, and sulfur, respectively. In the case of the micronutrients iron, manganese, zinc, copper, and boron, the accumulations in shoot biomass, also for a production of 120 t, are around 8.0, 3.0, 0.6, 0.4, and 0.3, respectively [2–4]. **Figure 1** shows the accumulation rate of macronutrients in the shoot biomass of RB867515 planted in February and harvested in July of the following year ("year and a half sugarcane"). Due to the high removal of nutrients by the sugarcane harvest, the nutrient supply capacity of the soil must be known to complement chemical and organic fertilization if necessary and, if there is presence of elements at toxic levels, to reduce its concentration by applying lime and gypsum. Normally, nutrient availability and presence of elements at toxic levels in the soil are evaluated by chemical soil analysis. The history of the area, especially fertilizations carried out, and whether or not there were symptoms of deficiency or of toxicity in previous cultures

Mineral Nutrition and Fertilization of Sugarcane http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.72300 171

Usually, soil samples are collected from the layers 0–20 and 20–40 cm. The results of the analysis of the layer 0–20 cm will be used to calculate fertilization and liming, and the results of the layer 20–40 cm may be used for calculations of gypsum needed. In the traditional soil sampling system, the area is divided into homogeneous units, taking into account, among others, the history of the area, soil types (color, texture and depth), location and topography (lowlands, slope and plateau), vegetation cover, and previous fertilizations. The most commonly used instruments for collecting soil samples are augers and cutting blades, also known as straight blades. The use of augers in replacement for straight blades has the advantage of a greater speed in collecting

**Figure 1.** Rate of nutrient accumulation in the shoot biomass of RB67515 planted in February and harvested in July of the

The average yields of sugarcane, including dry leaves and buds, oscillated around 100 tons of natural matter per hectare. However, by planting improved varieties and correcting and maintaining soil fertility by applying lime, gypsum and fertilization, it is possible to reach productivities of more than 150 tons of natural material per hectare. Complementary irrigation, especially that performed after sugarcane cutting, has resulted in high productivities and greater longevity of sugarcane plantations, as verified by authors in studies conducted in Paracatu, northwest of Minas Gerais, where they obtained an average productivity in two cuts of over 200 tons of industrializable culms per hectare per year [1].

In order for sugarcane to have high stalk yields in the plant cane cycle and small decreases in ratoon yields, it is necessary to implement measures to maintain or increase soil fertility. Based on that, the present chapter aims to discuss the main technologies, related to soil fertility and mineral nutrition of plants, used for sugarcane production.
